Police chief calls for end to new alcohol licenses in Chico

CHICO — Just months after recommending a liquor license for a beverage retailer as a matter of public convenience and necessity, Chico Police Chief Kirk Trostle said this week he thinks the city should stop granting new licenses to address the community's alcohol problems.

The recommendation came on the heels of new details in the death of 22-year-old Chico State student Marissa Madrid, who reportedly had a blood alcohol level of .11 when she fell out of a tree near Sycamore Pool and died last month. It was the community's sixth high-profile alcohol-related death since August.

Alcohol has been well linked to local instances of violence, sexual assaults, disorderly events, public intoxication and overdoses, Trostle said. And it contributes to the city's long-standing party reputation.

"At some point it's time for us to take a position and I'm recommending to the council to take a position to stop adding alcohol outlets or conditioning them so we can attempt to regain control of the alcohol abuse problem we have in our community," he said.

His concerns were prompted by the community Call to Action in February, which aimed to find solutions to the community's alcohol challenges. Several components must be addressed, including the sale of alcoholic beverages, Trostle said.

On Tuesday, new owners of Mangrove Mini Mart were seeking a new beer and wine license after a prior license expired during the business' closure. Because the location is in a census tract with an over-concentration of alcohol licenses, approval was needed by the council as a matter of "public convenience or necessity."

Chico currently has 274 on-site and off-site alcohol licenses within the city, for a concentration of 8.3 per square-mile. According to the state department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the city is authorized for a concentration of 5.7 per square-mile.

The census tract around the Mangrove Mini Mart is authorized for four licenses and has seven. From the store, it's only 515 feet to the next alcohol outlet.

Overconcentration is prevalent throughout the city, Trostle said. The census tract near Chico State University has a saturation level of 1,050 percent, and the tract for the new BevMo! is approved for five licenses but has 13.

"I had to do some soul searching and say, 'What am I doing? Is this really the appropriate recommendation I should be giving to council?'" Trostle said.

Councilor Sean Morgan wanted to know how Mangrove Mini Mart is any different than BevMo!, for which alcohol licenses were approved in March. At the time of approval, several councilors said the issue is not availability of alcohol but the culture.

BevMo!'s application was already in process before the call to action, Trostle said. Since then, his extensive research proves an increase in alcohol outlets are increased correlates with increases in violent and alcohol-related crime.

Councilor Tami Ritter said she supported the idea to not add new licenses in over-saturated areas but asked how the city could balance that concept with accusations that it is not business-friendly.

"How do we balance our kids' lives being lost because of alcohol abuse?" Trostle said. "I think the number of alcohol outlets we have in our community is plenty."

The City Council voted 6-1 to deny approval of the license, with Morgan the dissenting vote. The matter of establishing a city policy regarding alcohol licenses was referred to the Internal Affairs Committee.

"I really applaud you for doing this research and providing this information," Schwab told Trostle. "If we are to step up to the plate and take some responsibility in what the city's role is in the alcohol in our community, this is the information we need to make our decisions with."

Resident Ken Fleming also applauded the idea.

"What you are suggesting is the cure to the disease in this city," he said. "This is the No. 1 thing that needs to be done."